Mechanical musical instrument.



No. 827,384. PATENTED JULY 31,1906.

J. MOTAMMANY. MBGHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.9, 1900.

2. T E E E Nb s T E E H s 0A narran sTaTns PATENT onirica JOHNMGTAMMANY, OF NEWr YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO F. A. MCTAMMANY; OF NEWYORK, N. Y.

MECHANICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 31, 1906.

To all whom, it may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, JOHN MGTAMMANY, of New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Mechanical Musical Instruments, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention has relation to mechanical musical instruments, andrelates more particularly to th at class of instruments in which aplurality of vibratory tongues or other sounding devices is employed inconnection with mechanism for picking or sounding said tongues orsounding devices in a predetermined order or in certain relation. Thesaid musical instruments as thus described may be divided into twosubclasses-inst, those in which the sounding devices are actuated by acylinder having pins or projections to engage the teeth, and, second,those in which the sounding devices are actuated by pickers in turnreceiving their power from a traveling band or belt usually called thetunesheet. The present invention, however, differs from the mechanismsof both of these subclasses which I have mentioned in that although atraveling tune-sheet or selector is employed it does not furnishpowerfor actuating the pickers, the power being supplied by a meansindependent of said selector, and consequently said selector may be madeof non-metallic material. As a result of this an elongated musical sheetmay be employed, and therefore the instrument may be used for playingoperas, overtures, and other classical productions, which are barredfrom machines employing rotary tune-sheets or pincylinders.

Referring to the drawings, which show one embodiment of the invention,Figure l represents in plan view a portion of a mechanical musicalinstrument with the top plate removed. Fig. 2 represents alongitudinalsection through the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 representsone of the tilting levers in engagement with one ofthe toothed wheels tocause the picker to engage the tongue. Fig. 4 represents a frontelevation of the same. Fig. 5 represents one of the pickers with thespring which bears against it.. Figs. 6, 7 8, and 9 represent,respectivelyha spring, a picker, a toothed wheel, and a washer. Fig. l()illustrates a portion of the perforated selector.

Referring to said drawings, a represents the base, from which end wallsb and side walls t rise, there being a top plate b2, these parts forminga boX or receptacle for containing the operative mechanism. Within theboX and on the base are supported standards c c, in which is journaled ashaft d, the said shaft projecting through the side wall in the presentinstance and being provided with a crank d/ by means of which it may berotated. It will be understood that this shaft may be driven by anysuitable mechanism and that I have illustrated a crank merely for thepurpose of showing some device by means of which it may be rotated.

The shaft d is provided near its end with sprocket-wheels d2, of whichbut one is shown. In standards e near one end of the box is journaled asecond shaft f, having on its ends sprocket-wheels f/, from whichsprocketchains fzo extend to the sprocket-wheels d2. Consequently byrotating the shaftd the shaft f will be rotated in the same direction ata speed governed by the relative sizes of the sprocket-wheels d2 and fNear its ends the shaft f has toothed wheels f 2, which project upwardthrough slots in the topplate b2 far enough for the teeth to engageapertures in the outer edges of a tune-sheet g, which, as indicated, isin tie nature of an endless band passing around idlers g g', journaledupon suitable supports. This tune-sheet g passes underneath the groovedroll 7L, which is journaled upon a shaft h', mounted at its ends instandards h2, arising from the top plate t2, and it is also held inengagement with vthe teeth of the sprocket f2 by an idler-roll t,mounted in proximity to the said sprocketwheel above the tune-sheet.There may be a single idler along each edge of the tunesheet, or it mayconsist of a roll which extends entirely across it from edge to edge.

On each side of the shaft d there is a musical comb, said combs beingplaced in the same horizontal plane and being indicated at Each of saidcombs is secured upon the support j', in turn located upon the top ofthe block jz, as shown in Fig. 2. The plane of the tongues or soundingdevices is substantially in alinement with the aXis of the shaft d, andthe ends of said tongues Aare equidistant from the said shaft. Placedupon the shaft is a plurality of pickers, which are normally located outof alinement with IOO the tongues of the comb, but which may be movedinto operative position to engage the tongues and cause them to vibrate,the mec anism for moving said pickers into operative position beingcontrolled by the perforated tune-sheet. The pickers are indicated at 7c7c, and they consist of star-wheels or Wheels having teeth orprojections k Said wheels are formed with keys or feathers 762 to extendinto grooves or keyways m in collars or spacers m, strung upon the shaftd. Said collars or spacers are themselves provided with keys or feathersm2, projecting into a groove or keyway in the shaft d. lIounted on eachcollar m by the side of each of the pickers lc is a spur-wheel orratchet n, which is adapted to turn loosely upon said collar. Eachratchet is provided with lateral cams n, which, as shown, are three innumber. Said cams extend normally into apertures or sockets lcs, formedin the pickers, so that each picker and its corresponding ratchetwheelrotate in unison. There are six apertures 7c3 in each of the pickers,said apertures forming, as it were, radial spokes or ribs c4. If whenthe shaft d is rotated one of the ratchets be held stationary, thecontinued rotation of the corresponding picker will cause the spokes orribs 7i to engage the cams 1M, whereby the picker will be thrust axiallyof the shaft away from the ratchetwheel and into alinement with one ofthe tongues of each of the musical combs, and the tongues being engagedby the teeth of the picker as the shaft continues to rotate will becaused to vibrate and sound.

For the purpose of engaging the ratchets to throw the pickersautomatically into aline- :ment with their respective tongues I providea plurality of tilting levers o, Vwhich are arranged in grooves o in across-bar 02, attached to the top plate b2. Said levers are allfulcrumed upon a pin or shaft o3, which is passed through said bar 02,as shown in Figs. 3 and 4L. One end of each of the levers is providedwith a projection or finger o, adapted to be forced up through a slot b3in the top plate b2, directly under the grooved roll h, the other endbeing weighted for this purpose. The last-mentioned end of the lever hasa tooth or projection 05, which is adapted to engage one of the teeth ofthe ratchet n, though normally it is held out of engagement therewith byan unperforated part of the tune-sheet g. When the projection 0'i of oneof the levers o registers with a perforation in the tune-sheet g, itenters the same and projects upward into one of the grooves in the roll7L, and the other end is therefore dropped far enough for the projection o5 to engage a tooth of the ratchet therebeneath and hold itagainst movement. The continued rotation of the shaft d, however, causesthe corresponding picker to be moved axially, as previously described,whereby its teeth will engage the corresponding tongues of the musicalcomb. So long as the ratchet is held against movement the tongues willbe sounded by the picker.

Inasmuch as there are six teeth to each of the pickers, there are sixteeth to each of the ratchet-wheels, and when the ratchet-wheel and itspicker are rotating in unison the teeth thereof correspond in positionwith each other, the spaces 7c3 in the picker being substantiallyequidistant between the teeth lc thereof and the cams n beingsubstantially intermediate or at a point midway between the teeth of theratchet. Each picker is held against its ratchet by a circular spring p,these springs being strung upon the shaft d and lying between thecollars m. Each spring is provided with three or more springarms p',extending-from a hub, and the ends of these resilient arms bear againsta picker to hold it normally out of alinement with the tongue of thecomb. The springs are splined upon the shaft, and therefore rotate, ifdesired, with the pickers. By reason of the construction which I havedescribed the pickers rotate constantly during the rotation of the shaftd; but they are moved into operative position only when the ratchetscorresponding thereto are held against rotation.

I have shown two constructions of the ratchet n. In Fig. 3 the cam n isshown as substantially midway between the teeth of the ratchet, whereasin Fig. 8 the cams are located in the radial lines of said teeth. Ineither event, however, the operation will be substantially the same.

The tune-sheet g is provided in its edge with a row of equally-spacedapertures to receive the teeth of the driving-sprocketf2, so that thespeed of the sheet is controlled directly by the sprockets instead of bythe winding-roll. In this connection it may bc stated that it has beencustomary to move the elongated selector by a winding-roll. This isobjectionable in that the accumulation of the coils of the selector uponthe winding-roll constantly accelerates the speed of the selector anddestroys the tempo or movement of the musical composition. In thehereindescribed instrument, however, the selector is fed by thesprockets at an unvarying rate of speed.

In addition to preventing a change in the tempo or movement of thecomposition I achieve another object in the operation ofthe instrument.The cams on the ratchet-wheels are so formed as to practically precludethe likelihood of their indefinitely riding upon the spokes lc of thepickers, thereby prolonging a tone indefinitely; but as a furtherprecaution against such a contingency the noteholes in the selector arein such relation to the sprocket-holes that the engagement of the cams nwith the spokes lc* is properly timed,

TOO

rog

IBO

eaeszi The operation of the instrument is as follows: The shaft d isrotated, thereby causing the feeding of the tune-sheet through asprocket-chain f, the sprocket-wheelsv d2 and f', and the spur-wheel f2.When the perforation registers with the projection o4 on one of thetilting levers, the latter passes up through the sheet into the grooveh2, causing the opposite end of the lever to descend and engage a toothof the ratchet-wheel. The latter is immediately stopped from turning,and its corresponding picker is moved longitudinally of the shaft tocause its teeth to engage the combs and sound the same. When the solidportion of the tune-sheet impinges against the end 04 of the tiltinglever, it is returned to its normal position and releases the ratchet,which turns on its axis until its cams enter the apertures in thepickers, this being eHected by the flat spring which bears thereagainstand causes the ribs or spokes to ride down the inclined sides of thecams n. The flat springs not only act as Washers to separate the collarsm, but with the ratchet-wheels `lorm raceways for the reception of thelaterally-movable pickers.

I have referred to the devices which act upon the combs as pickers andratchets but I may also term them both star-wheels, in which case thewheels which are engaged by the tilting levers are termed primarystarwheels and those which engage the tongues of the combs are termedthe secondaryJ star-wheels. Viewed in this light, it may be stated thatbetween the tune-sheet and the combs there is mechanism including asecondary star-wheel to engage the comb and a primary star-wheel tocause the latter to pick the teeth of the comb. vThis is true eventhough the power for moving the secondary star-wheel is derived from therotating shaft.

Havingthus explained the nature of the invention, it is declared thatwhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination 'with atune-sheet, of a plurality of sounding devices, a series of primary andsecondary star-Wheels having coacting cams and intervening mechanismbetween the sheet and the primary star-Wheels whereby said primarystar-wheels act upon the secondary star-wheels to cause the latter toactuate the sounding devices.

2. In a mechanical musical instrument,the combination with a tune-sheet,of a series of independently-acting rotary pickers, each laterallymovable independently of the others.

3. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a series of independent'star-wheels or pickers,said wheels being rotatable and being axially movable independently ofeach other.

4. In a mechanical musical instrument, the

combination with a plurality of sounding devices, of a plurality ofpickers normally out of alinement with the sounding devices, andmechanism by means of which said pickers are caused to engage the saidteeth.

5. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a plurality of pickers normally out of alinementwith the sounding devices, means 'for actuating said pickers, and meansfor selecting predetermined pickers and moving them into alinement withthe sounding devices.

6. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination witha series ofsounding devices, of a plurality of independent continuously-actuatedpickers, normally inoperative with respect to the sounding devices, andmeans rfor selecting said pickers in predetermined order and causingthem to engage their respective sounding devices.

7. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a plurality of rotary pickers normally inoperativewith respect to the sounding devices, means for continuouslyA rotatingsaid pickers, a perforated tune-sheet or selector, and meanscontrollable by the perforations in said tune-sheet 'for selecting inpredetermined order the pickers which are to be rotated to engage saidsounding devices.

8. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a pluralityof sounding devices, of a plurality of rotary piclrers movable in thedirection of their axes of rotation, means for continuously rotatingsaid pickers,

and a selector independent of said means and having perforations forcausing the pickers when rotated and selected to engage the soundingdevices in predetermined order.

9. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a plurality of pickers, means for actuating saidpickers simultaneously, a tunesheet, and mechanism intervening betweensaid tune-sheet and said pickers for selecting certain of said pickersto engage t eir respective sounding devices.

10. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a plurality of pickers, means for actuating saidpickers in unison, and cam devices for each picker 'for causing it toengage a sounding device.

11. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a comb, ofa plurality of pickers for engaging the teeth of the comb,

said pickers being normally in inoperative po- A sition with respect tosaid teeth, a selector, mechanism intervening between the selector andthe cam devices to select them in predetermined order, and a pluralityof cam devices for moving said pickers laterally into operative positionwith respect tothe combteeth.

12. In a mechanical musical instrument,

IOO

IIO

the combination with a series of sounding devices, of a rotary shaft,means for rotating said shaft, a plurality of pickers mounted on saidshaft to continuously rotate therewith, means for holding said pickersin inoperative position with relation to the sounding devices, andselecting mechanism for moving said pickers into operative position toengage said sounding devices.

13. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a rotary shaft, means for rotating said shaft, aplurality of star-wheels on said shaft to pick the sounding devices, atunesheet, and intervening mechanism between the star-wheels and thetune-sheet whereby said star-wheels are selected in predetermined orderto engage the sounding devices.

14. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a plurality of star-wheels for engaging thesounding devices, cam devices for engaging each star-wheel and meanscontrolled by a tune-sheet for causing said cam devices to effect thepicking of a sounding device by its respective star-wheel.

15. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a rotary shaft, a plurality of starwheels on saidshaft and out of alinement with the sounding devices, a ratchet for eachstar-wheel, said ratchets having cam devices to act on said star-wheelsto move them into alinement with the sounding devices, and normallyrotating with said star-wheels and -mechanism adapted to be controlledby a tune-sheet for engaging the ratchet-wheels in predetermined orderand hold them against rotation.

16. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with. a seriesof sounding devices, a plurality of primary and secondary star-wheels, ashaft on which said star-wheels are all mounted, means for engaging andstopping the rotation of the primary starwheels, and cam devices carriedby the said primary star-wheels for causing the secondary star-wheels toengage the sounding devices.

17. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, and means for feeding a tune-sheet, of a series ofindependent pickers controlled by said tune-sheet for picking thesounding devices, said piclers having continuous rotary and independentlateral movements.

18. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with means forfeeding a perforated tune-sheet, and a series of sounding devices, of aplurality of fingers controlled by the perforations in the tune-sheet, aseries of star-wheels acted on by said fingers, and secondarystar-wheels acted on by the firstmentioned star wheels for engaging thesounding devices.

19. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a series ofsounding devices, and a plurality of star-wheels independently movablelaterally to engage the sounding devices.

20. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a series of tilting levers and a plurality ofcontinuously-rotating star-wheels caused by said tilting levers toengage the teeth of the comb.

21.,In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a series ofsounding devices, of a plurality of secondary star-wheels for engagingthe sounding devices, a similar number of tilting levers adapted to becontrolled by a tune-sheet, and a similar number of primary star-wheelscontrolled by the tilting levers for causing the secondary starwheels toengage and sound the sounding devices.

22. In a mechanical instrument, the combination with musical combsarranged opposite each other, of a shaft intermediate of said combs, aplurality of pickers on said shaft, and lying normally out of alincmentwith the teeth of said combs, and mechanism for moving-said pickersaxially of said shaft to engage the corresponding teeth on both combssimultaneously.

23. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a soundingdevice, of a rotary shaft, two star-wheels mounted on said shaft,provisions whereby one star-wheel controls the action of the other, atilting lever for engaging the first-mentioned star'- wheel, and aselector for governing the action of the tilting lever.

24. In a mechanical musical instrument, adaptedto be operated by aperforated sheet, the combination of a sound-producing device, acontinuously'- rotating star-wheel adapted to actuate the same butnormally in inoperative relation thereto, and a star-wheel interveningbetween the music-sheet and said first-mentioned star-wheel, and havingprovisions for moving said first-mentioned star-wheel to operativeposition.

25. In an automatic musical instrument adapted to be operated by aperforated sheet, the combination of a series of sounding devices, twostar-wheels for each sounding device, and a series of tilting leversintervening between the star-wheels and the perforated sheet.

26. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a shaft, aseries of collars mounted on said shaft to turn therewith, said collarshaving a series of grooves extending axially of the shaft, a series ofstar-wheels having projections fitted in said grooves, another series ofstar-Wheels rotatable on said collars, and a series of spring-washersholding the second-mention ed star-wheels against the first-mentionedstar-wheels.

iof

Y 27. n a mechanical musical instrument,

` the combination with a sounding device, of a comb, and selectingmechanism for moving said pickers against the pressure of their springsinto alinement with the teeth of the comb.

29. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with a toothedcomb, of a rotary shaft, a plurality of collars keyed on said shaft, apicker keyed on each collar but movable axially thereon, said pickersbeing normally out of alinement with the teeth of the comb, a ratchetmounted loosely on each collar, said ratchets having cam devices fittingin apertures or sockets in the pickers, and selecting mechanism forengaging and temporarily holding said ratchets against rotation for thepurpose described.

30. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination with wheels forengaging and feeding atune-sheet, and atoothed comb, of acontinuously-rotating shaft, a plurality of pickers mounted on saidshaft to rotate synchronously therewith, power-transmitting devicesbetween said shaft and the said wheels, and provisions controlled bysaid tune-sheet for causing said pickers to engage the teeth of saidcomb.

31. In a mechanical musical instrument, the combination of a soundingdevice, a rotary picker normally in inoperative relation to said device,means for continuously rotating said picker, a tune-sheet havingperforations, means for moving said picker into operative relationv tosaid device, and means controlled by said perforations forcausing saidpicker to operate said device `when moved into operative relationthereto.

32. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a plurality of soundingdevices, a perforated selector, a plurality of rotary pickers movable inthe direction of their axes of rotation adapted to be selected in anypredetermined order by the perforations in the selector, and meansindependent of the selector for continuously rotating said pickerswhereby as they are selected by said selector, they pick the soundingdevices.

33. Amechanical musical instrument, comprising a plurality of soundingdevices, a plurality of rotaryv pickers movable in the direction oftheir axes, a selector having perforations governing the order in whichsaid pickers operate said sounding devices, and means independent ofsaid selector for continuously actuating said pickers.

34. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a sounding device, amultiple-pointed rotary picker movable in the direction of its axis ofrotation and normally inoperative with respect to said sounding device,a selector having perforations which govern the action of the picker,and means independent of said selector for continuously actuating saidpicker.

35. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a sounding device, amultiple-pointed picker, a selector having perforations governing theengagement of the points of said picker with said sounding device, andmeans independent of the selector for continuously rotating said pickerto bring its points successively into engagement with said soundingdevice when said picker-is selected by said selector, said picker beingmovable in the direction of its axis of rotation.

36. Amechanical musical instrument, comprising musical combs arrangedopposite to each other, a selector or tune-sheet, a plurality ofpickers, and mechanism independent of said tune-sheet or selector andincluding a driving-shaft intermediate of said combs for actuating thepickers to cause them to pick the teeth of the combs, the pickers beingon said shaft.

37. Amechanical musical instrument comprising a plurality of soundingdevices, a shaft, a pair of toothed wheels on said shaft for eachsounding device, and a selector for governing the action of said wheels.y

38. A mechanical musical instrument comprising a continuously-rotatingshaft, a plurality of sounding devices, a plurality of toothed wheels onsaid shaft for each sounding device, and a selector governing the actionof said wheels. n

39. Amechanicalmusicalinstrument, comprising a sounding device, a rotarypicker for l engaging and releasing said sounding device,

said picker being movable in the direction of its axis of rotation andnormally inoperative with respect to said sounding device, a selectorhaving perforations which control the axial movement of said picker intoengagement with the sounding device, and means independent of theselector for continuously and positively actuating said picker.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN MOTAMMANY.

IIO

